How to Make Homemade Grass and Weed Killers

In the weeds? Here are some DIY ways to clear up your lawn

A woman in a home garden spraying homemade weed killer
Photo: goodluz / Adobe Stock
A woman in a home garden spraying homemade weed killer
Photo: goodluz / Adobe Stock
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How to Prevent Weeds From Coming Back

You can’t prevent the wind from blowing weed seeds onto your property, but you can do some relatively simple things to dissuade unwanted grasses from crowding up your lawn.

  • Add ground-covering plants: Certain plants compete for space and resources with weeds, crowding them out. Consider planting creeping thyme, lavender, oregano, ajuga, creeping juniper, and similar plants to prevent weeds from taking root. 

  • Pull out weeds manually: Many types of weeds germinate quickly, releasing thousands of seeds into the atmosphere. In other words, stay on top of your game by manually pulling out weeds whenever you find new growth. 

  • Mow regularly: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass blades at around 3 inches in length. These tall grass blades shade the undersoil, which helps reduce weed growth. 

  • Water properly: Hose sprinklers should run around 4 hours per zone once per week, resulting in 1 inch of water on the lawn every week. A properly watered lawn helps create a deep root system which, in turn, crowds out weeds. 

  • Use the appropriate fertilizer: Make sure to fertilize your lawn regularly and use an appropriate type of fertilizer for the plants you are cultivating. 

  • Try an aeration service: Contact a local lawn aeration service and give core aeration a shot. This process helps improve the root system, reducing the thatch layer and increasing air circulation in the process. This helps create an optimal environment for your desired plants and gives weeds a reduced infiltration window. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

Hiring a local weed control service is a surefire way to complete the job quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you are overwhelmed by the number of weeds on your property, this is a great option. However, hiring a pro costs $100 to $200 and the aforementioned DIY solutions only cost the price of the materials. Give one of these DIY options a shot and bring out the paid professionals if you can’t quite get a handle on things, as weeds are finicky.

Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.

How to Prevent Weeds From Coming Back

You can’t prevent the wind from blowing weed seeds onto your property, but you can do some relatively simple things to dissuade unwanted grasses from crowding up your lawn.

  • Add ground-covering plants: Certain plants compete for space and resources with weeds, crowding them out. Consider planting creeping thyme, lavender, oregano, ajuga, creeping juniper, and similar plants to prevent weeds from taking root. 

  • Pull out weeds manually: Many types of weeds germinate quickly, releasing thousands of seeds into the atmosphere. In other words, stay on top of your game by manually pulling out weeds whenever you find new growth. 

  • Mow regularly: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass blades at around 3 inches in length. These tall grass blades shade the undersoil, which helps reduce weed growth. 

  • Water properly: Hose sprinklers should run around 4 hours per zone once per week, resulting in 1 inch of water on the lawn every week. A properly watered lawn helps create a deep root system which, in turn, crowds out weeds. 

  • Use the appropriate fertilizer: Make sure to fertilize your lawn regularly and use an appropriate type of fertilizer for the plants you are cultivating. 

  • Try an aeration service: Contact a local lawn aeration service and give core aeration a shot. This process helps improve the root system, reducing the thatch layer and increasing air circulation in the process. This helps create an optimal environment for your desired plants and gives weeds a reduced infiltration window. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

Hiring a local weed control service is a surefire way to complete the job quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you are overwhelmed by the number of weeds on your property, this is a great option. However, hiring a pro costs $100 to $200 and the aforementioned DIY solutions only cost the price of the materials. Give one of these DIY options a shot and bring out the paid professionals if you can’t quite get a handle on things, as weeds are finicky.

Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.

 A weed growing between cracks in the pavement
Photo: kvdkz / Adobe Stock

How to Prevent Weeds From Coming Back

You can’t prevent the wind from blowing weed seeds onto your property, but you can do some relatively simple things to dissuade unwanted grasses from crowding up your lawn.

  • Add ground-covering plants: Certain plants compete for space and resources with weeds, crowding them out. Consider planting creeping thyme, lavender, oregano, ajuga, creeping juniper, and similar plants to prevent weeds from taking root. 

  • Pull out weeds manually: Many types of weeds germinate quickly, releasing thousands of seeds into the atmosphere. In other words, stay on top of your game by manually pulling out weeds whenever you find new growth. 

  • Mow regularly: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass blades at around 3 inches in length. These tall grass blades shade the undersoil, which helps reduce weed growth. 

  • Water properly: Hose sprinklers should run around 4 hours per zone once per week, resulting in 1 inch of water on the lawn every week. A properly watered lawn helps create a deep root system which, in turn, crowds out weeds. 

  • Use the appropriate fertilizer: Make sure to fertilize your lawn regularly and use an appropriate type of fertilizer for the plants you are cultivating. 

  • Try an aeration service: Contact a local lawn aeration service and give core aeration a shot. This process helps improve the root system, reducing the thatch layer and increasing air circulation in the process. This helps create an optimal environment for your desired plants and gives weeds a reduced infiltration window. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

Hiring a local weed control service is a surefire way to complete the job quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you are overwhelmed by the number of weeds on your property, this is a great option. However, hiring a pro costs $100 to $200 and the aforementioned DIY solutions only cost the price of the materials. Give one of these DIY options a shot and bring out the paid professionals if you can’t quite get a handle on things, as weeds are finicky.

Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.

Homeowner and Pro Illustration
From one homeowner to another

Great experience from start to finish. They responded to my inquiry quickly and came out to give me a quote the same day. My yard was overgrown with weeds and needed lots of trimming. The guys came out and pulled all of the weeds by hand to get them out by the roots and trimmed up nicely. They were able to come up with a treatment plan within my budget to get my lawn and yard looking great again. Very professional, efficient and knowledgeable.

— Debra B.
5.0
Review of Sarasota Lawn Care Services, in Sarasota, FL

How to Prevent Weeds From Coming Back

You can’t prevent the wind from blowing weed seeds onto your property, but you can do some relatively simple things to dissuade unwanted grasses from crowding up your lawn.

  • Add ground-covering plants: Certain plants compete for space and resources with weeds, crowding them out. Consider planting creeping thyme, lavender, oregano, ajuga, creeping juniper, and similar plants to prevent weeds from taking root. 

  • Pull out weeds manually: Many types of weeds germinate quickly, releasing thousands of seeds into the atmosphere. In other words, stay on top of your game by manually pulling out weeds whenever you find new growth. 

  • Mow regularly: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass blades at around 3 inches in length. These tall grass blades shade the undersoil, which helps reduce weed growth. 

  • Water properly: Hose sprinklers should run around 4 hours per zone once per week, resulting in 1 inch of water on the lawn every week. A properly watered lawn helps create a deep root system which, in turn, crowds out weeds. 

  • Use the appropriate fertilizer: Make sure to fertilize your lawn regularly and use an appropriate type of fertilizer for the plants you are cultivating. 

  • Try an aeration service: Contact a local lawn aeration service and give core aeration a shot. This process helps improve the root system, reducing the thatch layer and increasing air circulation in the process. This helps create an optimal environment for your desired plants and gives weeds a reduced infiltration window. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

Hiring a local weed control service is a surefire way to complete the job quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you are overwhelmed by the number of weeds on your property, this is a great option. However, hiring a pro costs $100 to $200 and the aforementioned DIY solutions only cost the price of the materials. Give one of these DIY options a shot and bring out the paid professionals if you can’t quite get a handle on things, as weeds are finicky.

Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.

How to Prevent Weeds From Coming Back

You can’t prevent the wind from blowing weed seeds onto your property, but you can do some relatively simple things to dissuade unwanted grasses from crowding up your lawn.

  • Add ground-covering plants: Certain plants compete for space and resources with weeds, crowding them out. Consider planting creeping thyme, lavender, oregano, ajuga, creeping juniper, and similar plants to prevent weeds from taking root. 

  • Pull out weeds manually: Many types of weeds germinate quickly, releasing thousands of seeds into the atmosphere. In other words, stay on top of your game by manually pulling out weeds whenever you find new growth. 

  • Mow regularly: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass blades at around 3 inches in length. These tall grass blades shade the undersoil, which helps reduce weed growth. 

  • Water properly: Hose sprinklers should run around 4 hours per zone once per week, resulting in 1 inch of water on the lawn every week. A properly watered lawn helps create a deep root system which, in turn, crowds out weeds. 

  • Use the appropriate fertilizer: Make sure to fertilize your lawn regularly and use an appropriate type of fertilizer for the plants you are cultivating. 

  • Try an aeration service: Contact a local lawn aeration service and give core aeration a shot. This process helps improve the root system, reducing the thatch layer and increasing air circulation in the process. This helps create an optimal environment for your desired plants and gives weeds a reduced infiltration window. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

Hiring a local weed control service is a surefire way to complete the job quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you are overwhelmed by the number of weeds on your property, this is a great option. However, hiring a pro costs $100 to $200 and the aforementioned DIY solutions only cost the price of the materials. Give one of these DIY options a shot and bring out the paid professionals if you can’t quite get a handle on things, as weeds are finicky.

Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.

A gardener treating weeds with a bottle of homemade weed killer
Photo: dean / Adobe Stock

How to Prevent Weeds From Coming Back

You can’t prevent the wind from blowing weed seeds onto your property, but you can do some relatively simple things to dissuade unwanted grasses from crowding up your lawn.

  • Add ground-covering plants: Certain plants compete for space and resources with weeds, crowding them out. Consider planting creeping thyme, lavender, oregano, ajuga, creeping juniper, and similar plants to prevent weeds from taking root. 

  • Pull out weeds manually: Many types of weeds germinate quickly, releasing thousands of seeds into the atmosphere. In other words, stay on top of your game by manually pulling out weeds whenever you find new growth. 

  • Mow regularly: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass blades at around 3 inches in length. These tall grass blades shade the undersoil, which helps reduce weed growth. 

  • Water properly: Hose sprinklers should run around 4 hours per zone once per week, resulting in 1 inch of water on the lawn every week. A properly watered lawn helps create a deep root system which, in turn, crowds out weeds. 

  • Use the appropriate fertilizer: Make sure to fertilize your lawn regularly and use an appropriate type of fertilizer for the plants you are cultivating. 

  • Try an aeration service: Contact a local lawn aeration service and give core aeration a shot. This process helps improve the root system, reducing the thatch layer and increasing air circulation in the process. This helps create an optimal environment for your desired plants and gives weeds a reduced infiltration window. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

Hiring a local weed control service is a surefire way to complete the job quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you are overwhelmed by the number of weeds on your property, this is a great option. However, hiring a pro costs $100 to $200 and the aforementioned DIY solutions only cost the price of the materials. Give one of these DIY options a shot and bring out the paid professionals if you can’t quite get a handle on things, as weeds are finicky.

Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.

How to Prevent Weeds From Coming Back

You can’t prevent the wind from blowing weed seeds onto your property, but you can do some relatively simple things to dissuade unwanted grasses from crowding up your lawn.

  • Add ground-covering plants: Certain plants compete for space and resources with weeds, crowding them out. Consider planting creeping thyme, lavender, oregano, ajuga, creeping juniper, and similar plants to prevent weeds from taking root. 

  • Pull out weeds manually: Many types of weeds germinate quickly, releasing thousands of seeds into the atmosphere. In other words, stay on top of your game by manually pulling out weeds whenever you find new growth. 

  • Mow regularly: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass blades at around 3 inches in length. These tall grass blades shade the undersoil, which helps reduce weed growth. 

  • Water properly: Hose sprinklers should run around 4 hours per zone once per week, resulting in 1 inch of water on the lawn every week. A properly watered lawn helps create a deep root system which, in turn, crowds out weeds. 

  • Use the appropriate fertilizer: Make sure to fertilize your lawn regularly and use an appropriate type of fertilizer for the plants you are cultivating. 

  • Try an aeration service: Contact a local lawn aeration service and give core aeration a shot. This process helps improve the root system, reducing the thatch layer and increasing air circulation in the process. This helps create an optimal environment for your desired plants and gives weeds a reduced infiltration window. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

Hiring a local weed control service is a surefire way to complete the job quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you are overwhelmed by the number of weeds on your property, this is a great option. However, hiring a pro costs $100 to $200 and the aforementioned DIY solutions only cost the price of the materials. Give one of these DIY options a shot and bring out the paid professionals if you can’t quite get a handle on things, as weeds are finicky.

Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fastest way to kill unwanted grass and weeds is by using a commercial-grade herbicide, such as glyphosate. However, these herbicides introduce all kinds of icky chemicals into your lawn. If you want a quick-acting weed killer that is relatively safe to use, go with the vinegar, salt, and dish soap solution mentioned above. Boiled water also works quickly.

There are many options to eradicate weeds right down to the roots. Vinegar works, but it takes a week or so to do its thing, and the same goes for many commercially available herbicides. Boiled water is a quick way to kill off roots, or you can pull up weeds at the root.

Roundup is a budget-friendly and highly-effective commercially available herbicide. The active ingredient, glyphosate, is highly toxic to plants, which is good for weeds, but also toxic to animals, people, and nearly everything else. Plus, you likely don’t have access to industrial-grade glyphosate. Using a vinegar, salt, and dish soap solution mimics the effects without toxicity.

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